Preparing for the Winter Solstice

Ave, Sandum Citizens!

In support of the democratic institutions of our State, this Office has checked and re-checked the ballot made for this Winter Solstice election. In preparation for the Solstice, the election will open one fortnight in advance of the Solstice: VII G Decembro MMXII or tomorrow. The election will be open until XXI Decembro MMXII (21 December 2012), the day of the Solstice. Election results will be entered in and reported quickly.

To follow the outcome of the CCPS Party Congress, which affirmed the Sandum value and the oaths of citizens, one must swear the oath of Sandum citizens to reaffirm their belief in the Sandum Society and State before one casts their vote. The text of the oath will be provided upon deliverance of the ballot and reads:

Oath upon Ascension of Peregrae citizens to Civilae citizenship
I swear that, upon ascension to the civil class of the Civilae, I shall uphold the Sandum value against suffering, according to my own personal liberties decreed by law, for the betterment of myself as a Sandum citizen, the Socialist society, and the State of Sandus; and, that I shall bear true allegiance to the Honourable Sôgmô, his government, and his elected successors, as decreed by law.

Oath of Civilae citizensI swear that I shall uphold the Sandum value against suffering, according to my own personal liberties decreed by law, for the betterment of myself as a Sandum citizen, the Socialist society, and the State of Sandus; and, that I shall bear true allegiance to the Honourable Sôgmô, his government, and his elected successors, as decreed by law.

The Sôgmô too shall swear this citizens’ oath. On the Winter Solstice, the Sôgmô shall swear the oaths of the office, the cooperative officers will swear the oaths of their offices, and other high government officials, diplomats, and judicial-power officers will swear the oaths of their offices. This ceremony shall be repeated yearly to continuously reaffirm the message of the Sandum State, its purpose, and its guide.

For the Winter Solstice, special emphasis has been placed on the election and, especially, the petition section. The Office of the Sôgmô, in a guide published below, has especially noted the co-equal function of both the petition section and the voting section. Though you ought to vote for the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the Sôgmô’s reign, please be sure to fill out the petition section. The guide below specifies anything can be addressed: major directional changes in State policy and individual specific issues, to minor issues or images of the government, the culture, or the Sôgmô’s functions. Even compliments are welcomed. Please, though, do not place jokes in that section and try not to leave it blank. Give your sincere say on our State: this is your democracy at work.

Also, in preparation for the Winter Solstice, please remember to fulfil your charitable taxes. Remember that charitable donations go beyond FreeRice.com, they include time volunteering and money and wares given to charity or to those in need. For instance, the Sôgmô recently donated a child’s trundle bed to the Salvation Army; this helps to fulfil the Sandum tax requirements. Your efforts in helping others re-affirms Sandus’s commitment to ending suffering in its manageable forms: let’s fulfil the Sandum Value!

A Guide to Your Sandum Electoral Ballot:

How your electoral ballot will look:

Introduction: Thank you, Citizen, for showing interest in your nation’s elections! This guide will explain to you the several parts of the Sandum ballot. The first section is essentially the symbols of the State and explaining the ballot. Between the symbols (the motto and the anthem of Sandus) and the explanation of the ballot is a section for you to give your name, age, and your date of voting. Besides your vote, this is perhaps the most important section.

The Voting Sections: The voting sections are divided into two sections, following the well-wishing greeting on the top of the voting section: 1) the Sôgmô’s election and 2) the petition and feedback sections. Because the office of the San8ba/Phanem Representative is now defunct (who served as a representative of the People to the Sôgmô), both sections are equally important.

1. The Sôgmô’s Election: By the Founding Law, all power is to the Sôgmô. However, the Founding Law does not give the basis for when that absolute power is illegitimate and contested by the people. Therefore, for the legitimate and democratic approval of the people, you must specify if you — in your democratic capacity — find the Sôgmô’s rule to be legitimate or illegitimate. If you vote for his reign as being illegitimate, please write and explain why. This is as important as your vote because it enables us to curb the absolute power of the Sôgmô.

2. The petition section is also very important. In the past, we had a San8ba Representative, who was elected by the people to represent them to the Sôgmô. However, due to the previous Representative’s own resignation, no viable replacement, and Realist essays, the position has been discontinued. Therefore, it is vital that you should also enumerate your free and unrestricted petition on the ballot. They can range anywhere from where you’d like the nation to be directed to, to a minor issue; even constructive criticism and kind compliments are endorsed! Just put something! In this section, a feedback questionnaire is included. It’s not vital you fill it out, but it’s helpful to us.

Finally, at the very bottom of the ballot file, you will find an appendix of the mentioned laws in the ballot text.